Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer called for even greater access to abortion in the state during her What’s Next “State of the State” address on Wednesday.
Though Michigan has already cemented its stance as pro-abortion, Whitmer called on lawmakers to create a Reproductive Health Act that would further repeal a number of pro-life laws that remain on the books. While she didn’t disclose which laws she specifically wants to repeal, the state currently requires a woman seeking an abortion to be counseled at least 24 hours prior to the procedure and stipulates that only physicians can commit abortions. There is also a parental notification law for minors seeking an abortion, and there are building code requirements for abortion facilities.
Provisions such as these have been developed for women’s safety and to ensure that women have all the information they need to make an informed decision.
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“Slaying our zombie laws was great,” Whitmer said, referring to the state’s repeal of a 1931 law that made it a felony to assist in an abortion, “but there are still other bad laws that put politically motivated, medically unnecessary restrictions on abortion. This forces patients to drive hundreds of miles for care or mandate that they receive biased, inaccurate information about their health.”
Abortion activists are already advocating for the passage of the Reproductive Health Act. “We trust that when the legislators come back to Lansing that they will prioritize passing a Reproductive Health Act that secures the most access to abortion for the most people in Michigan,” Loren Khogali, executive director of the ACLU of Michigan, told reporters Monday.
Genevieve Marnon, legislative liaison for Right to Life of Michigan, told Bridge Michigan the move is a further push for “abortion on demand” in the state. “The majority of people who voted for Prop 3 believe that we should have licensed and inspected clinics that are safe and that meet a minimum standard,” Marnon said. “I think most people believe that we should have informed consent before an abortion, and I know most people want parental consent for abortion.”
Lawmakers are expected to begin their next legislative session in early September.
